Duke Ellington

piano, composition · 1899–1974 · Washington, D.C.

Composer and bandleader; Cotton Club from 1927, Newport 1956.

Styles

• Harlem: Henderson, Redman, Ellington
• Swing, big bands

Landmark albums

• Ellington at Newport (1956, Columbia)
• Money Jungle (1963, United Artists)

Landmark tracks

• Black and Tan Fantasy (1927)
• Creole Love Call (1927)
• East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (1927)
• Mood Indigo (1930)
• It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (1932)
• Sophisticated Lady (1933)
• Cotton Tail (1940)
• Take the 'A' Train (1941)
• Chelsea Bridge (1941)
• I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) (1941)
• Perdido (1942)
• Satin Doll (1953)
• Sunset and the Mocking Bird (1959)
• Main Title / Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
• Paris Blues (1961)
• Money Jungle (1962)
• Take the Coltrane (1963)
• In a Sentimental Mood (1963)
• Sacred Concert (sélection) (1965)
• Isfahan (1966)
• Blue Pepper (Far East of the Blues) (1966)

Cited in 14 radio episodes

• Dedicated episode · Mar 8, 2020: Far East Suite, le grand voyage de Duke Ellington (59 Rue des Archives, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Dedicated episode · Nov 25, 2018: Money Jungle, Ellington, Mingus, Max Roach: Un trio de choc (59 Rue des Archives, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Oct 6, 2026: Absurdia symphonia (La Vie Secrète du Jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Sep 18, 2026: Come Sunday - DE LA SUITE DANS LES IDEES (Anatomie d'un titre, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Sep 10, 2026: Take the A Train - Le RER du jazz (Anatomie d'un titre, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Sep 2, 2026: Mais c'est quoi, le swing? (Les Matins Jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Apr 6, 2026: Duke Save The Queen ! Quand Ellington faisait swinguer la reine d'Angleterre (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Jun 19, 2025: 1940 - 1941, l’âge d’or de Duke Ellington, troisième partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)

And 6 more episodes in the archive.

Sources

• EN : Duke Ellington

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